Information in English

The main objective of this research area, also known as High Energy Physics is the most fundamental understanding of the constituents of nature and their basic interactions.

For fundamental constituents we understand the elementary particles, which are classified into two types: fermions and bosons. Currently, we know for basic interactions: weak and strong nuclear forces, the electromagnetic and the gravitational interactions. The current theory that describes the interactions between elementary particles (ignoring gravity) is the Standard Model. It results from Quantum Field Theory by considering certain special symmetries. In this model fermions appear in replicas of a family composed of the electron, the neutrino and up and down quarks (the constituents of protons and neutrons). The vector bosons are intermediaries of interactions and also there is a postulated boson scalar (Higgs boson) to explain the existence of mass of other elementary particles. The existence of the Higgs boson was recently confirmed by experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN.

Elementary particles of the Standard Model

The work of a physicist in this area can be purely theoretical: seeking mathematical tools to fill gaps in current knowledge of elementary interactions, testing the consistency of new theories or hypotheses as extra dimensions, supersymmetry, etc. It can also be experimental, ranging from the construction and operation of particle detectors of all sizes, to the interpretation of the data provided by these machines, trying to connect them with the various hypotheses existing in the theoretical field. In common, all physicists working in this area need to have a solid understanding of the fundamental theories of physics, especially quantum mechanics and relativity, and a great curiosity for understanding the innermost nature of matter.

Research Perspectives

The successful experimental confirmation of the Standard Model helped formulate new questions that drive the research topics in the area. Among some of these issues are the following:

• precision tests of the Standard Model,

• stabilization the electroweak scale,

• the existence of new symmetries such as supersymmetry and gauge groups beyond the Standard Model,

• mechanisms of symmetry breaking and mass generation,

• the problem of mass and mixing of neutrinos,

• the problem of matter-antimatter asymmetry in the universe,

• the stability of the proton,

• the problem of confinement of quarks and the mass spectrum of QCD at low energies,

• candidates particles for dark matter,

• the existence of extra dimensions,

and so on.

Example of a Calabi-Yau space, studied in the context of compactifications of String Theory

There are also applications in condensed matter physics, for example, the quantum Hall effect and low dimensional systems.

Great experiments in physics take place today, as well as new experiments are planned for the coming years. These experiments have significant potential to lead to new discoveries. The UFABC has representatives in the CMS collaboration at CERN, which investigates high-energy collisions in the LHC accelerator, and in the Pierre Auger cosmic ray observatory, for example. Thus, the coming years should continue with an intense activity, both in experimental and theoretical field in the area of Elementary Particles and Fields.

Física Experimental de Altas Energias

Below is a (non-exhaustive) list of the areas of reserach of the Professors working with the Graduate Program in Physics @ UFABC.

For more information, click on the name of the research area, or check the Orientadores Credenciados for the Program, where you can find more information about the research activities of each one of them.

The course for the Master Degree in Physics has duration of 2 years, during which the student must attend four required courses that provide a solid background in physics, namely

Quantum Mechanics I

Quantum Mechanics II

Statistical Mechanics

Classical Electrodynamics

Typically, the student will also attend courses specific to his area of research. A Qualification Exam roughly at the middle of the course, which is presented by the student to a panel of evaluators, allows the student to have assessed the development of his research project, preparing him for the future defense of his Master's Thesis. The student must also take a supervised teaching internship to gain some experience in teaching, working in the UFABC undergraduate courses under the supervision of a faculty member.

For the completion of the PhD, the student must attend or have attended the four compulsory courses of the Master’s Degree, and choose one further basic discipline:

Quantum Mechanics III

Classical Mechanics.

The student will also attend specific courses in his area, and pass a Qualifying Examination. Two teaching internships are required for completion of the PhD, as well as proof of proficiency in English Language.

The candidate must complete its course producing a thesis that contains original research results, and should have at least one article published in an international journal to enable to obtain the title of Doctor in Physics.

List of Disciplines

Quantum Information is a new area of research that combines Information Science, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering. One particular aspect which usually attracts considerable interest for this area is the fact that the communication or information processing using quantum systems can be applied to perform tasks that would be impractical in the Classical Theory of Information (current paradigm). These tasks include, for example, unbreakable codes (quantum cryptography) and algorithms exponentially more efficient than those currently performed on classical computers.

The practical realization of quantum computers and quantum networks for data transmission is limited by the process called decoherence. This phenomenon arises due to the inevitable coupling of the quantum system with the environment and / or due to intrinsic fluctuations (noise) present in real experiments and devices. The phenomenon of decoherence and its control are challenging topics under intense investigation in this research area. In addition, Quantum Information Science has deep meaning to the very foundation of physics. In fact, the informational point of view of Nature is a powerful tool to establish basic physical principles and technological limits currently attainable.

The manipulation of individual atoms and photons allowed the demonstration of the basic fundamentals of Quantum Information Science, but these systems are not the only ones considered today. The scenario is even more interesting considering that for multipartite systems in meso or nano scale, the occurrence of quantum manifestations may be accompanied by (or be in competition with) a wide range of interesting physical effects, typical of the mesoscopic domain. To determine what is the interplay between complex phenomena emerging from the meso-scale, and quantum phenomena, is not only fascinating but also crucial for the full understanding of how nature determines the complicated processes that occur beyond the paradigm "small, protected and elementary", typical of isolated atoms and single photons.

Quantum Information Science and Quantum Technology (meso and nano systems) are strongly interdisciplinary research areas that will play a crucial role in the technological evolution of the XXI century.

Students who opt for this line of research, "Nanostructured Systems and Quantum Information", will develop their projects in the Quantum Information Group, under the guidance of leading scientists in the field. The Quantum Information Group of UFABC is highly motivated and enthusiastic and has great international visibility. The research conducted by this group includes a wide range of topics, including:

Quantum Information Science (Theoretical and Experimental)

Nanostructures for Quantum Computing

Effects of Quantum Thermodynamics and mesoscopic systems

Quantum Metrology

Open Quantum Systems

For more information contact the supervisors associated with this line of research:

Registration for the selection process for the MSc and PhD courses in Physics typically occur

• during October and November to begin in February of next year.

• during June and July to beginning the course in September of the same year.

Please see the site of the Program for more precise information about the enrollment periods for the selection process.

The Graduate Program in Physics is one of the organizers of the “Exame Unificado das Pós-Graduações em Física”, an unified examination for entrance in many important Graduate Programs in Brazil. The EUF is applied in several locations in Brazil and in other Latin American countries.

The result of this test is one of the main items for the evaluation of candidates for the Graduate Program in Physics at UFABC, as well as for the classification of candidates for the scholarships, so the interested student should be alert to the EUF enrollment period, which is always informed on the webpage of the PPG-FIS.

Besides their grade in the EUF, the student must submit, in electronic format, his academic record and certificate of completion of his graduation, and request that two teachers send letters of recommendation in his behalf, evaluating its historical and academic potential. Also he must fill in his Curriculum Lattes (lattes.cnpq.br) with biographical and academic informations.